Richard Codey

Richard Codey (27 November 1946-) was Governor of New Jersey (D) from 12 to 15 January 2002 (succeeding John O. Bennett and preceding Jim McGreevey) and from 15 November 2004 to 17 January 2006 (succeeding McGreevey and preceding Jon Corzine).

Biography
Richard Codey was born in Orange, New Jersey in 1946, and he worked for his family's funeral home business before being elected to the General Assembly in 1973. He served in the General Assembly from 1974 to 1982 and in the State Senate from 1982, and he was one of the three acting Governors appointed in between Christine Todd Whitman's resignation and Jim McGreevey's inauguration, serving from 12 to 15 January 2002. McGreevey's resignation in 2004 led to Codey again serving as Governor, this time for over a year. He supported a ban on indoor smoking, more money for stem cell research, increased funding for mental health, and sports. He left office as Governor in January 2006, upon which Jon Corzine took office, and Codey returned to the State Senate.